Teen killed in Sunday car crash

Six hospitalized in two-car collision

On Sunday, a motor vehicle collision on Route 6 east of Burch Road in Port Tobacco resulted in six people injured and one dead.

At around 2:13 p.m., troopers from the Maryland State Police La Plata Barrack and deputies from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a motor vehicle collision. Because of the severity of the crash, the MSP requested the Maryland State Police CRASH Team to investigate.

James Anthony Christian, 43, of Bryans Road was operating a 2015 Nissan Rogue traveling eastbound on Route 6.

Operating a 2014 Chevrolet Cruze was Tiauna Shawnta Quarles, 36, of Bel Alton with four occupants: Antwan Demarkus Lyles, 38, of Port Tobacco, Destanee Keenae Lyles, 18, of Waldorf, Averi Jeannette Smith-Godfrey, 18, of Temple Hills and Jada Monique Brown, 18, of Burtonsville.

Quarles had pulled onto Route 6 from a private driveway and began traveling eastbound.

Christian, traveling eastbound on Route 6, approached the Chevrolet from behind. Attempting to pass the Chevrolet, Christian subsequently crashed into the rear of the Chevrolet.

Following the collision, the Nissan caught fire and was extinguished by sheriff’s office deputies. All occupants of the Chevrolet,

except for Smith-Godfrey, who was transported to Prince George’s Hospital by U.S. Park Police helicopter Eagle 1, were transported to University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center in La Plata. Destanee Lyles succumbed to her injuries at the hospital.

Christian was transported by ambulance to Charles Regional.

The investigation is continuing and being investigated by Cpl. J. Zimmerman of the Maryland State Police CRASH Team.

Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is asked to contact Zimmerman at 301-392-1231.